In order to study the high-yield, high-efficiency and high-quality nitrogen application rate under drip irrigation in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, a field trial was conducted using two high-yield varieties Jimai-22 and Yannong-1212 with 4 nitrogen levels, 0, 150, 210 and 270 kg/hm², under field drip irrigation during 2018-2020. The photosynthetic physiological characteristics, grain filling characteristics and grain yield were studied. The results showed that nitrogen application could significantly increase the SPAD value of the upper three leaves of winter wheat. Appropriate nitrogen application could significantly increase the relative chlorophyll content and flag leaf net photosynthetic rate (P_n) in the middle and late stages of grain filling. The SOD activity of wheat flag leaves showed a single peak curve. The SOD activity of each nitrogen treatment reached the maximum at 14 days after anthesis, and the SOD activity of N0 treatment reached the maximum at 7 days after anthesis. Under N2 nitrogen level, the flag leaf SOD activity of the two varieties was the highest in the middle and late filling stages. An appropriate rate of nitrogen application could reduce leaf membrane lipid peroxidation in late growth period and leaf MDA content, prolong leaf function period, and improve photosynthetic performance in late growth period. With the increases of nitrogen application rates, the grain filling rate and maximum theoretical 1000-grain weight of the two varieties increased first and then decreased. The Tm of the non-nitrogen treatments was relatively earlier than that of the various nitrogen treatments. For the maximum grain filling rate and maximum theoretical 1000-grain weight, Jimai-22 and Yannong-1212 appeared as the largest under N1 and N2 treatments, respectively. The yields of the two varieties first increased and then decreased with the increases of nitrogen application rates, and both were the largest at N2 treatment. The yield of Jimai-22 was higher than that of Yannong-1212 under N0 and N1 levels, but lower than that of Yannong-1212 under N2 and N3 levels, indicating that Yannong-1212 was more sensitive to nitrogen fertilizer and had a higher yield potential under high fertility and water conditions while Jimai 22 had a strong adaptability with a better performance under the low and medium fertilization. There were differences in the nitrogen responses on the yield components of the two varieties. The yield of Jimai-22 mainly depended on the number of ears and grains per ear, while the yield of Yannong-1212 was of a synergistic effect of the number of ears, grains per ear, and 1 000-grain weight. Nitrogen application significantly increased the protein, wet gluten, and sedimentation value of the two varieties. The quality of Yannong-1212 increased with the increases of nitrogen application in the range of 0~150 kg/hm², while Jimai-22 increased with the increases of nitrogen application in the range of 0~210 kg/hm². In summary, under this experimental conditions, the 210 kg/hm² of nitrogen applied under drip irrigation resulted in better photosynthetic characteristics, enzyme activity, grain filling characteristics, yield and quality of both cultivars and therefore should be the optimal nitrogen application rate.