Soil
Dirt is a colloquial term, often used synonymously with ground, earth, and soil. It is the stuff that makes up the ground outside in most places. It comes in colors like brown, red, beige, and black. Dirt is understood to be a mix of sand, silt, and clay, which are names for the textures of dirt -- sand being the largest, then silt, then clay, which is the most dense and difficult for water to drain through. [1]
Colors and Discerning Dirt
In some cultures, black dirt is seen as the most fertile. Red dirt often has a high clay content, while beige or yellow dirt often includes higher levels of sand. Dirt sold in stores can sometimes include small white orbs, which are usually white clover seeds, fertilizer, or other nitration-fixing materials, due to the need of nitrogen for growing plants.
Growing in Dirt
When talking about dirt, most are referring to topsoil, which is a mix of earth, tiny organisms, and necessary nutrients and elements for growing plants. Dirt needs to include water, anchorage, oxygen, and nutrients, like phosphorus, nitrogen, and other substances. [1]