The article is devoted to studying the possibilities of digital relief modeling based on UAV survey data when analyzing the spatial distribution of humus in the conditions of an experimental field. The scale of cartographic models was 1:2 000. A key site with an area of 2.62 ha, located within the boundaries of the educational and scientific experimental field of the Perm State Agricultural and Technological University on the territory of the Perm Municipal District of the Perm Territory, was selected as the object of research. The purpose of the study is to assess the spatial distribution of humus using UAV data based on indicators of soil erosion potential. The soil cover of the surveyed area is represented by soddy-podzolic soils of heavy granulometric composition. To obtain a digital terrain model using photogrammetry methods, UAV photography was carried out using a DJI mini 2 quadcopter. Photogrammetric image processing was performed in the Drone Deploy web application. The spatial distribution of humus content in the soils of the key area was determined at 45 points. Soil samples were taken from the depth of the arable layer (0–20 cm) and analyzed in the laboratory of the Department of Agrochemistry and Soil Science of the Perm State Agricultural and Technological University according to GOST 26213-84 with colorimetric finishing. On the territory of the experimental site under study, the humus content has a pronounced spatial autocorrelation. The map of humus content was constructed using the ordinary kriging method. When visually comparing the results of digital relief modeling with a map of the spatial distribution of humus in a key area, the dependence of the increase in the content of organic matter with the values of the elevation of the area, as well as with the distance to the thalwegs (removal zone), is clearly visible. To establish the influence of relief on the humus content in soils, a raster correlation was carried out in the SAGA program, which showed a close relationship between the humus content and the distance to the thalweg and the elevation of the area (r = 0.75). Indicators characterizing moisture content and surface curvature have little effect on the variation of humus content in space.
