Abstract: 【Objective】 To clarify the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics and influence factors of agricultural ecological efficiency in Yangtze River basin， which could provide theoretical basis for solving ecological and environmental problems in agricultural economic development and realizing the “ecology first， green development” strategy in Yangtze River basin.【Method】 Based on data from 11 provincial administrative regions in Yangtze River basin （Sichuan， Chongqing， Guizhou， Yunnan， Hunan， Hubei， Jiangxi， Anhui， Jiangsu， Zhejiang， and Shanghai） from 2000 to 2023， an evaluation index system for agricultural ecological efficiency was constructed. The spatial-temporal evolution characteris-tics of agricultural ecological efficiency in Yangtze River basin were explored using supper-efficiency SBM model with undesirable outputs and kernel density estimation. The random forest model combined with ranking assignment and normalized summation was used to analyze the factors influencing agricultural ecological efficiency in Yangtze River basin and their importance.【Result】 In the temporal dimension， agricultural ecological efficiency in Yangtze River basin improved greatly from 2000 to 2023， with a steady upward trend in all provincial administrative regions. Based on agricultural ecological efficiency， the 11 provincial administrative regions in the Yangtze River basin could be divided into 3 tiers： Shanghai ranked in the first tier with an average agricultural ecological efficiency of 0.80； Jiangsu， Zhejiang， Hunan， Hubei， and Sichuan belonged to the second tier with average values between 0.70 and 0.80； Yunnan， Anhui， Jiangxi， Chongqing， and Guizhou were in the third tier with average values below 0.70. In the spatial dimension， there were obvious spatial differences in agricultural ecological efficiency in Yangtze River basin. From 2010 to 2023， the efficiency showed U-shaped structure， specifically downstream > upstream > midstream. Among the influence factors， total agricultural machinery power and agricultural labor force were highly important； pesticide usage， crop sown area， and pure fertilizer usage were generally important； while effective irrigation area and plastic film usage were relatively less important. However， with the evolution of time and spatial economic levels， the effects of each factor and their interactions varied across different years. 【Suggestion】 Leverage locational characteristic advantages to formulate differentiated agricultural development strategies； strengthen regional industrial synergy to promote coordinated development among related regions； and focus on new quality productive forces to continuosly promote agricultural ecological efficiency.