Dirt

Dirt is a block found abundantly in the Overworld. Dirt will drop as an item when broken with any tool or by hand, but a shovel is the fastest way to break it.



Natural generation
Dirt is found at any altitude, and comprises the majority of the upper terrain layers in most overworld biomes.

There are approximately 1,850 dirt blocks per chunk in plains, forest, tundra, jungle, and extreme hills biomes. There can be as many as 3,000 in chunks with high mountains. Dirt generates in pockets underground as well. Dirt also generates naturally in the butcher's shop and in some houses in villages.

Dirt based blocks
When grass, mycelium, or podzol are broken using a tool that is not enchanted with Silk Touch, it will drop dirt. Grass paths will also drop dirt when broken, regardless of if the shovel has Silk Touch.

Farmland will drop dirt when broken. It will also turn into dirt if either a mob jumps on it, or if nothing is planted on it and it is not within four blocks of water.

Coarse dirt can be tilled to become dirt.

Farming
Dirt has the ability to grow saplings, sugar canes, and mushrooms, which can be planted directly in dirt under appropriate conditions.

Using a hoe on dirt will turn it into farmland, enabling wheat seeds, pumpkin seeds, melon seeds, potatoes, carrots and beetroot seeds to be planted on it.

Grass and mycelium spreading
When a dirt block is adjacent to a grass block and is exposed to a light level of at least 4, it will eventually be converted into a grass block at random intervals.

Mycelium spreads in similar fashion, but requires a light level of at least 9.