Leaf litter decomposition in the air should not be ignored in subtropical plantations of China

•Litter mass remaining was slightly higher in the air than on the ground.•Litter mass remaining correlated negatively with microbial respiration only on the ground.•Home-field advantage during decomposition occurred on the ground, but disappeared in the air.•Litter decomposition pathway differed between on the ground and in the air.•Litter decomposition in the air should not be neglected in subtropical forests.