Earth: 土 (2)
土 (つち・つちへん) usually sits on the left and points to earth or places: 壌 means soil, 堤 an embankment, and 墨 is ink made from soot and earth materials. Other meanings grow from the same ground association, such as the steps in 陛 or the platform in 壇.
壌 and 壇 have 16 strokes each; 墜 has 15, 墨 14, 堤 12, 培 11, 陛 10, 垣 9, 垂 8, and 庄 6. Keep the left 土 compact.