Crop oil or crop oil concentrates are petroleum-based additives that are used as adjuvants to increase the efficacy of pesticides in agricultural applications. Crop oils are composed primarily of paraffin or naphtha-based petroleum oil and crop oil concentrates are composed of emulsifiable petroleum-based oil.  The addition of a surfactant and/or emulsifier is commonly added in order to increase spray dispersal and uptake by both plant and insect hosts in pesticides and herbicides.

Alternatives 
In addition to crop oils and crop oil concentrates, methylated seed oils are also used as adjuvants for herbicide applications.

References

See also 
 pesticides 
 Petroleum additives

Pesticides