A method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of P, K, Cu, Cd, Zn, Fe, Mn and Pb in soils and sediments by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP) after digestion in nitric acid. The procedure extracted 82 to 94% of the totals of the heavy metals, 78% of total P and 34% of total K. Inter‐element interference correction data are given for the ICP method. The method gave results similar to those obtained by other analytical procedures. The precision of the method was satisfactory but was lowest for Cd which had the lowest concentrations (<2.7 mg/kg) of the elements determined.