Use of multiple LIDAR-derived digital terrain indices and machine learning for high-resolution national-scale soil moisture mapping of the Swedish forest landscape

•A new method for accurate high-resolution soil moisture mapping in forests.•LIDAR-derived terrain indices proved effective for mapping of forest soil moisture.•Extreme Gradient Boosting was the best algorithm for mapping soil moisture.•The continuous soil moisture map would significantly contribute to practical forestry.•Maps were relatively less accurate near roads, on coarse sediments, and in steep terrains.