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Why were chinampas productive places for growing crops?

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Map of Mesoamerica showing the geographic distribution of various Indigenous peoples, with regions labeled for groups such as the Maya, Nahua, Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Mazahua, Huastec, Tarasco, and others across present-day Mexico and parts of Central America. Boundaries indicate the approximate areas inhabited by each group. — Mesoamerican Indian Distribution of Meso-American Indians.

Chinampas were highly productive agricultural sites because they utilized a sophisticated system of swamp reclamation and irrigation that maximized the limited land available in the Valley of Mexico.12

These artificial islands were constructed by layering vegetation, dirt, and nutrient-rich mud dredged from the lake bottom. This process provided several key advantages:34

Natural Fertilization and Irrigation: The surrounding lake water provided constant moisture to the soil, which was laden with decomposing organic waste that acted as a natural fertilizer.3
Multiple Harvests: Due to the region's mild climate and the constant availability of water for irrigation, chinampas were capable of yielding multiple harvests annually.2
Efficient Land Use: By converting waterlogged lakeshores and swamps into stable, raised fields, the Aztec were able to practice intensive cultivation in an area where level, arable land was otherwise scarce.12

This system allowed the Aztec to support a dense population and provide a reliable food supply for their capital, Tenochtitlán, through human-powered, intensive farming techniques.12