Four standard soils prepared by the Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project and one standard NBS plant tissue sample were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP‐AES) to evaluate the spectral interferences and subsequent correction required for the bulk elemental analysis of the soil and plant digests. Elemental interferences were identified and resolved through use of groups of liquid standards coupled with application of correction factors using the system's software. Accurate results for the standard soils were obtained for 16 elements while content of 19 elements determined in standard orchard leaves were within certified limits. Acceptable results for As, Cd and B in soil could not be obtained, in part due to interferences by Ti.