The study used fuzzy classification and principal component analysis to study plant community succession in a loess hilly region. They found that 13 sample plots with 15 species were classified into 5 classes, showing a succession series from Artemisia scoparia to Hippophae rhamnoides communities. This method is effective in studying plant community succession, providing precise results with simple calculations that can be done on a computer. It improves the quantification of plant succession studies and has high value in this field.