To control the total amount of agricultural water use and enhance its efficiency, we analyzed the variations in agricultural water use intensity and its rebound effect. Based on the provincial panel data of the Yangtze River Economic Belt （YREB） from 2004 and 2022, the spatial-temporal evolution of agricultural water use intensity was analyzed by kernel density function. Meanwhile, the rebound effect was calculated and evaluated according to the standards for agricultural water rebound effects. The findings indicate that the average agricultural water use intensity in the YREB showed a declining pattern, with the water intensity from low to high following the order of the upstream, midstream, and downstream. In terms of spatial distribution, the uneven multi-wave peak distribution of agricultural water use intensity in the YREB gradually changed to three-wave peak distribution, and the differences between provinces and cities narrowed. Affected by agricultural technological advancements and other factors, all provinces and cities in the YREB experienced a relatively high degree of agricultural water rebound effect, indicating a failed attempt in controlling the total agricultural water use. Therefore, it is necessary to accelerate the innovation, development and promotion of agricultural water-saving technologies, and reduce water rebound effect from both policy-making and technology innovation perspectives, so as to achieve the goal of consumption reduction and efficiency enhancement of agricultural water.