Purpose <p>The integration of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing data of water and fertilizer deficits with variable rate irrigation (VRI) control systems provides a critical approach to precision water and fertilizer management. This study developed dynamic zoning management strategies for VRI and variable rate fertilization (VRF) via UAV thermal infrared and multi-spectral systems. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of these strategies on the soil water content, crop growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP).</p> Methods <p>The experiment was carried out over two growing seasons (2022–2024) of winter wheat at Dacaozhuang in the Hebei Province of the North China Plain. It was implemented across a 7.07 ha area controlled by a three-span center pivot irrigation system. The uniform rate irrigation and fertilization treatment of local farmers was used as the control (CK), and four additional treatments were established, including uniform rate irrigation + variable rate fertilization on the basis of the vegetation index (UIVF1), variable rate irrigation + uniform rate fertilization (VIUF), variable rate irrigation + variable rate fertilization on the basis of the vegetation index (VIVF1), and variable rate irrigation + variable rate fertilization on the basis of historical yield, soil nutrient content and multi-spectral information fusion (VIVF2).</p> Results <p>The two-year experimental results revealed no statistically significant differences in the soil water content, plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, plant nitrogen uptake, or grain yield among UIVF1, VIUF, VIVF1 and VIVF2. Compared with the CK treatment, the VIVF2 treatment achieved a maximum yield of 9117 kg ha^-1, representing a 13% increase. The VRI treatments reduced irrigation water application by an average of 31% and improved the WUE by 24%. The VRF treatments decreased nitrogen fertilizer input by 3% and increased the NPFP by 7% on average. Among the four variable rate treatments, the three VRI treatments reduced irrigation water by 9% and increased WUE by 5–12% compared with the uniform rate irrigation treatment. The three VRF treatments decreased the nitrogen fertilizer input by 18% and elevated the NPFP by 20–27% compared with the uniform rate fertilization treatment.</p> Conclusion <p>These findings provide practical guidance for establishing dynamic zoning management for VRIs and VRFs on the basis of UAV remote sensing.</p>